Fountain paint brush device



Aug. 16, 1938. H-.1F. MITCHELL v I 2,126,999 V l FQUNTAI PAINT BRUSH DEVICE Filed Maren 21, 193e INVENTOR, 704/5 /V/rfwcu.

ATTORNEYs,

emma Aug. 1s, 193s 2,126,999

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FOUNTAIN PAINT BRUSH DEVICE Hollis Foster Mitchell, Indianapolis, Ind., assignor oi' twelve percent to William M. Clark. `twen- ,ty-eight percent to William Emrich, Jr.. and eight percent jointly to William M. Clark and William Emrich, Jr., both oi' Indianapolis, Ind.

Application March 21, 1936, Serial No. 70,092 3 Claims. (Cl. 15 128) This invention relates to a fountain paint pump, the pump discharging by the iiexible conbrush device. duit ila to the fixture I 5 ci' T-i'ormation.

The chiel' object ci' this invention is to provide One end of the member I5 supports a gauge a fountain brush or like device construction i8, the other end connects to or discharges into 5 which will eliminate the dipping oi' the brush the top of a cover structure i'l constituting a- 5 into the material to be applied by the brush. dome which is operatively associated with a re- One feature of the invention consists in the ceiver il. The receiver i8 is suitably supported portable character and the universal and iiexible by the base.

character of the construction. 'I'he cover il includes a pair of diametricaily 10 Another feature of the invention consists in positioned biiurcated brackets I9. The base 10 the knock-down construction of the several parts pivotally supports at 20 the elongated bolts or incorporated in the device, whereby the paint rods 2|, and Wing nuts 22 on the upper ends or liquid containing and transmitting portions thereof, whereby the cover is clampingly assoare readily exposed for cleaning purposes. ciated with the receiver and both 4are rigidly Other features of the invention, such as an arassociated with the base. The cover also is prorangement permitting two or more operators to vided with the handle for carrying purposes and operate from the same device or the single opindicated by the numeral 23.

erator to apply two colors from the same device The receiver is provided with an outlet 24 conl without changing colors in the device and the trolled by a manually operable valve 25 and conprovision oi' a detachable arrangement, whereby nected to the discharge end oi said valve is a 20 any brush may be substituted for another brush flexible hose 26, the latter being detachably confor special work, if, as and when desired, withnected as at 21 to a tubular handle 28, the oppoout disturbing the remainder of the construction. site endo! which terminates in a brush struc- Other features will be more fully set `forth ture 29. Reference will be had more i'ully herein- 25 hereinafter in the detailed description. after relative to portions 2B and 29. 25

The full nature of the invention will be under- The receiver includes a downwardly directed stood from the accompanying drawing and the hook portion 3i and the cover includes. in spaced following description and claims. relation, an upwardly directed hook portion 32,

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of one the same constituting the equivalent of a reel embodiment of the invention applied and secured or like support for thehose 26. 30 to a support, such as a' board, or the like, the Herein the receiver is shown provided with two dotted lines illustrating the board clamping struc- A discharge mechanisms and with two reels or hose ture in non-clamping position. l supports and two brushes, so thatv two painters Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of one form may paint at the same time from the single reof brush construction. ceiver supply. 35. Fig. 3 is an enlarged, transverse, sectional view The cover has rigidly secured to it, the bracket taken on line 3-3 oi' Fig. Zand in the direction structure 33 which includes a tubular portion at of the arrows, and of the manual feed valve. that encircles the standard or pump cylinder l2 Fig. 4 is an enlarged plan view of the multiple and the tubular portion 34 is split and is adapted 40 compartment paint receiver or bucket, the bail to be clampingly associated with the tube i2 by ag@ and other parts being omitted for clearness. means of the bolt' 35 and wing nut 35. A stop Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view collar 31 may be provided when desired or rethrough the adjacent portions of the receiver and quired. cover. When paint, or the like. is to be supplied to Fig. 6 is an end elevation of the discharge end the receiver or at the end of the vdays work the 45 of one of the flexible liquid supplying brush receiver is to be removed and cleaned, the clamptubes.- a ing structure 35-36 is opened, the cover is ele- In Fig. l of the drawing, lil indicates a plank vated vertically until the union or connection such as is customarily used, said plank being between the receiver and the cover is disassosupported upon brackets carried by two spaced ciated and then the cover is swung horizontally 50 ladders. A base has extending, upwardly thereuntil it clears the receiver. It may be clamped from, a standard i2, herein shown in the i'orm of in this position, but, oi course. it is understood a pump cylinder, the cylinder being provided with that the clamp or hold-down structure 2I-22 is a piston, not shown, carried by the rod I3 propreviously disconnected from the brackets i9,

vided with a handle I4 for manipulating the there being two oi' these structures and atoppo- 55 tributing devices 29 held by means of handles 28.

The hose connections 8l to the discharge end of the valve 26 are of the readily detachable type.

Most painters prefer a springy board to work upon and even if a board of that character not be utilized, the constant movement ofthe painter,

l painter intermittently utilize two colors. In that or painters, on the board will through vibration tend to move the base and supply mechanism carried thereby from the board. l Hence, there is provided a C-clamp 46 pivotally supported at 4| on the base and provided with the clamping bearing member 42 of screw type.

Suitably secured as at 43 to the standard, and herein the tube I2 is such, is the resilient retainer 44 having the cooperating jaws 4I which yieldingly receive the clamp when in non-clamping position and yieldingly retain the clamp in said non-clamping position. The jaws 46 cooperate with the enlargements 46 on the clamp, said enlargements being formed on opposite sides thereof. Thus, whenever the base is supported on the floor, ground level, porch or the like. the clamp will be positioned as shown in dotted lines in Fig. l and when supported on a board or the like, the clamp will be positioned as shown in full lines in said figure.

Whenever the board is not utilized but the supply arrangement is to be utilized by a painter on a ladder and the painter is up quite high, then the angle clamp 41 secured to the standard (tube I2) as at 48 and having the depending portion 49, bears upon the upper surface of an upper rung and the portion 42 of the clamp whenever it is desired to clamp the construction thereto to prevent accldental release, engages the lower surface of a lower rung, and if th'e distance between the rungs varies, the adJustable character of member 42 permits this anchorage to be adjusted to the rung spacing.

One form of leakproof connection between the reservoir and cover is illustrated in Fig. 5. The receiver |8 is shown provided with the peripheral lip 60 an'd the lower end of the cover is shown provided with a peripheral lip receiving flange BI, rigidly secured thereto in any suitable manner, herein such being illustrated as riveting 52. Interposed between the lip and lip receiving flange I5 is the gasket 53. This prevents the release of the air pressure in the receiver and the escapement of the air.

In place of having two painters work from the same paint supply, it may be desired to have one event the receiver shown in Fig. 4 and indicated by numeral ||8, includes a partition structure |09. Each compartment |08 thereof discharges as at |24 to a valve |26 which has a detachable connection to a supply line |29.

While the two brushes shown in Fig. 1 are illustrated as being of identical character, it is to be understood that one may be of smaller or larger character or of a different type from that of the other brush, depending upon the type of work to be performed.

Certain forms of the invention do not contemplate the use of a hand pump. With this form of the invention, the standard could be of tubular character or could be of solid character, as desired, or required. The means for applying pressure to the composite container then would include in place of the T-flxture I6, an air chuck intake. The painter would, enroute to the job, with an apparatus of this kind, stop at the nearest lling station and apply air pressure thereto, the amount of air injected being suitably gauged Just as tire pressures are gauged.

However, it is to be noted if the painter is to remain on a large job, that after the pressure has fallen materially in the tank, he would have to return to the filling station for renewal of the pressure. This would result in a loss of time and. therefore, the preferred form of the invention includes the incorporation. of the pressure supply as an inherent part of the supply mechanism. The entire supply mechanism may be readily transported by the handle 23. The supply attachment may also be provided with means whereby the same may be carried on the back of the painter when desired although the same however, are not disclosed herein.

Reference will now be had to Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 6, wherein the preferred form of brush structure is illustrated.

In Fig. 2 of the drawing, 88 indicates a molded rubber base, the bristles 29 being anchored by being molded therein. The base is provided with a suitable number of apertures 6| and herein flexible tubing 62 is illustrated as extending through the apertures and projecting slightly above the base 60. `The flexible tubing is herein shown-see the broken away portion in the left hand central portion of Fig. 2-as of coil wire type and substantially leakproof in the heel portion of the brush where less flexing occurs. This flexible tube extends beyond the base toward the paint applying ends of the bristles but terminates short thereof. Each end of the tube preferably is of nozzle type, being flattened as at 63-see part Fig. 6. Herein three tubes of this general character are illustrated. Any number may be used.

Also molded in the base is a nut structure 64 internally threaded as at 66. .A chamber forming head 66 is centrally apertured as at 61 and provides a chamber B8 open at one end whereby it freely communicates with the open ends of certain of the tubes 62. The lower face 69 of the head bears on a gasket 10 interposed between the h'ead and the base. The metallic ferrule 1| which is conventional with brush structures, is extended upwardly and forms a nest to telescopically receive the head structure. The handle 28 has a passage 12 therein which at one end is threaded as at 13 and adapted to receive the connecting structure 21, shown in Fig. 1, whereby the line 26 is in free communication with passage 12.

Mounted in the handle 28 is a valve member 14 having a threaded engagement 15 therewith and an exposed knurled head 16. This constitutes the constant flow control and regulates the rate of flow through the passage 12 to the chamber 6B. Another passage 11 is herein shown in alignment with the passage 12 and terminates in a reduced portion 18 which communicates with a well 1-9 formedin the base and immediately beneath the nut.

The reduced portion of the handle 28 which includes passage 11 and reduced passage 18 is of the chamber 68 and flows through the tubes into the brush proper for subsequent brush distribution.

The head 88 includes a face 88 and the handle 28 adjacent the reduced portion 88 has a shoulder 84 and interposed therebetween is a gasket or washer 85. When the handle is threadedly connected to the base with the two gaskets and the head structure interposed therebetween, there is provided a brush structure which is rigidly connected together and with the parts secured in leakproof relation.

It will be apparent that by unthreading the handle from the base, the face of the base is exposed for cleaning of the tubes and cleaning oi the face of'thc base. The wall of the chamber 68 is also fully exposed for cleaning purposes. Also, the passages 12 and 11 may be readily cleaned by running a cleaning fluid therethrough.

The hose 2s, shown in Fig. 1. when detached from the handle and-from the valve 25, may be similarly cleaned and, yof course, when the cover has been removed. the receiver may be removed and readily cleaned, the cleaning fluid draining through the valve as a final operation for cleaning the valve 25 as well.

It is to be understood that if a brush of the character illustrated in Fig. 2 is not the proper brush for certain work, another brush, including flexible tubing, bristles and base and of the desired character but having a face substantially identical to that shown in Fig. 2, may be readily substituted for that shown in Fig. 2. Thus, considerable flexibility is possible by this interchangeable adaptability of the brush structure. Also, this `detachable arrangement permits of brush renewal by merely substituting a new brush base.

Furthermore. whenever a brush with a smaller base is required, then a brush of the desired base structure and a head corresponding thereto but with an upper portion conforming to that shown in Fig. 2 is utilized and also the gasket 85 is again employed. This further extends the range of usefulness of the foregoing device as an entirety.

The operation of the device has been previously set forth relative to getting the liquid down to the passage 11. Passage 12 immediatelybeyond valve 14 and between it and passage 11 includes an offset 88, the offset portion 88 being in free communication with the portion 12, except as restricted by valve 14. The handle 28 is provided with a transverse bore 81 which is threaded as at 88 and the same receives a threaded member 88 having a conical valve seat 88 at one end and an apertured partition 8| at the other end.

A tubular extension 82 is exposed on the handle. The aperture 83 in the partition slldably supports a valve stem which carries a head structure 95, a portion of which is telescopically associated with the tubular extension 82 and interposed therebetween 4is a spring 86 which normally retains the valve member 81 of conical character in valve closing position. Packing 88 surrounds the valve stem and prevents leakage of the liquid supplied to offset portion, and which is under pressure.

When the thumb piece 85 is depressed in opposition to spring 86, liquid under pressure ows through passage 12, the rate of flow being determinable by the pressure and by the restricting valve 14 and into the chamber 88see Fig. 3-

and thence through the valve seat arrangement receiver. Those familiar and beyond the valve 81 and ows into and through the passage 11. Upon manual release, the valve 81 is again seated by the spring. The operator of the brush grasps the -same in the usual manner and manipulates valve 81 by the thumb or forenger. and usually the former, and as often as required to keep thebristles supplied with paint, or the like. for painting.

The cleaning operation of all of the other parts of the mechanism has been previously set forth. For cleaning the brush valve. or valves, it is quite apparent that valve 14 may be readily removed and cleaned. For cleaning the intermittent valve or real manual control of the supplyl the tubular valve seat structure is entirely removed from the handle and when removed. the

valve member 81 with its supporting stem 84 is detached from the exposed portion or button 85 and then the entire valve member may be cleaned as well as the reservoirl or chamber portion 88 of the valve seat structure. After cleaning, the

parts may be reassembled in reverse order and then other paint supplied thereto.

Another economy not apparent from the foregoing description and which is inherent in the use of this device, is that when paint is utilized which is relatively rapid drying upon exposure to air, the excess of air to the paint is prevented except on the immediate surface oi' the paint in the with the painting art know in handling paint of this character the painter usually slaps the brush on opposite sides of the container and there gradually accumulates paint material which is not in fluid condition and which gradually becomes of a crumbly character near the end of a half days work and these crumbs of paint attach themselves to the brush and are applied by the brush to the work, thus resulting in a rough paint application. The present invention, as before mentioned, does not waste paint in the sense of forming this appreciable accumulation of paint material which is not useful, and furthermore has the advantage of insuring the application of paint without the application of crumbs to the coat.

It is, of course. to be understood that as is good practice in the painting art, all paint supplied to the receiver after being properly mixed for the particular work and conditions under which it is to be applied, should be strained before being supplied to the receiver. This, the careful painter always does, even when paintin: with the usual hand brush and hand bucket, so that no additional operation is chargeable to the use of this device.

The use of this device eliminates the necessity of the painter constantly bending over when on the ladder or scaffold to dip his brush in the bucket. It also leaves the painter with one hand free to support himself which is not the case if the painter carries the bucket with him. as is sometimes required in has been estimated that approximately to 50% of the painting time is saved by the use of this device. In actual operation, it has required but three seconds to apply the screened paint to the receiver, place the receiver on the base. apply the cover, clamp the cover to the receiver and to the base and the receiver to the base, attach the hose to the valve, attach the brush to the hose, open the valve to which thehose is attached and supply the air pressure to the composite container.

While the invention has been described in great hand bucket painting. It

detail in the foregoing description and has been illustrated in detail as well, such illustration andv description are to be considered as illustrative only and not restrictive in character. Various modifications o! this invention have been illustrated and/or described in the'foregoing drawing and description and such modications as well as others which will readily suggest themselves to persons skilled in the painting art, are all considered to be within the broad scope o! the invention, reference being had to the appended claims. l

The invention claimed is 1. In a fountain brush, the combination with a base having a plurality or bristles projecting therefrom and apertures therethrough, of flexible tubes supported by the base and each communieating with an aperture and extending from the base toward and terminating short of the bristles' free ends, said bristles completely enveloping the tubes, each tube having a passage therein of substantially uniform cross section throughout the length of the tube except with its free end flattened to form a ared mouth, the flattened end having a discharge area approximately that of the tube cross section, the several rlattenings being substantially coplanar.

2. A device as defined by claim l, characterized by each tube comprising metallic coil spring wire means arranged in tubular and substantially leakprooi' relation.

3. In a readily cleanable fountain brush. the combination of a handle having a liquid supply passage, a head detachable from the handle and forming a continuation thereof and having therein a chamber communicating with the passage and with an open end oi' an area approximately equal to the greatest area of the chamber. a bristle supporting base of an area comparable to that o! the chamber and apertured for liquid discharge from the chamber to the bristles, said a detachable connection between the base and handle for clamping the chambered head therebetween.

HOLLIS FOSTER MITCHELL.

. base closing the open end of the chamber. and 

